Marin Readers' Forum for Dec. 18

As one member of a nation in mourning over the violence in Connecticut, I question the headline to your lead story of Dec. 15 — "Unthinkable." It has long been recognized that, in a nation awash in poorly regulated to unregulated firearms, deaths and injuries from these weapons, rather than being unthinkable, should be considered the routine they have become.

As a physician, I know the medical literature has many times over the years pointed out the public health danger brought about by such availability. This, combined with a body of political leaders generally cowed by fear of a private lobbying organization (the National Rifle Association), has contributed to the persistence of these deaths and injuries, when common sense would argue that we do not need military style assault weapons on the streets of our towns and cities. Neither would their absence negatively affect those pursuing the alleged sporting use of firearms. We can only hope our leaders come to their senses about this issue or that someone succeeds in convincing Canada to annex our state so we could be safer and healthier.

An additional contributing potential cause appears to be the difficulty persons displaying mental health issues have in accessing care for them.

Ed Boyce, M.D., San Rafael

Paradigm shift needed

Tragically, the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School have shown, once again, that "gun free zones" do not work — Columbine was a gun free zone, Virginia Tech was a gun free zone, as was Sandy Hook Elementary.

Teachers, staff and volunteers at all schools should be encouraged (in coordination with law enforcement) to become proficient with firearms. Training courses, initial and ongoing, should be provided.

Concealed carry permits, if desired, should be granted to any and all who are teachers, staff and volunteers at schools. Subject, of course, to all the required background checks, competency, proficiency and ongoing training, etc.

Schools who have suitably qualified personnel should then in three-foot high letters, on all sides of the school grounds, post a sign proclaiming — "Faculty & Staff are Armed & Trained."

My guess is if this had been the environment at Sandy Hook Elementary School, that a very, very, brave principal may still be alive, an evil shooter may still be dead (or in custody), and 26 others would be with their families this Christmas.

If gun laws worked, Oakland, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago would be free of gun deaths.

Frank Shellabear, Novato

Repeal 2nd Amendment

Where do I sign the petition to repeal the Second Amendment?

Ken Sablik, Novato

A 'heartbroken' teen

I am a high school senior in Mill Valley who, like countless others across the country, was absolutely horrified to hear about the mass shooting of children in Newton, Conn., on Friday. To think that such an event could happen at any school is preying on my mind. It is a sobering realization.

This massacre of children at Sandy Hook Elementary was utterly tragic and unforeseeable; however, I do not think that it and other mass shootings can be blamed only on the disturbed individuals who perpetrated them. With stricter gun control laws (especially for semi-automatic and assault weapons) and more accessible mental health services, I believe that the recent firearm tragedies in our country might have been avoided.

I am heartbroken by the loss of life that occurred, but coupled with my grief is a growing outrage; our government, even in the face of a trending pattern of slaughter, has next to zero accountability for the shootings. This is totally unacceptable. It is the responsibility of state and federal governments to protect their citizens, yet time after violent time, mass shootings have elicited no legislative responses.

It is therefore the duty of our national legislature to impose much stronger safety regulations on guns. I urge them to do everything in their power so that they can execute their most basic function: protecting their constituency.